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A NEW stained-glass window inspired by the tale of Cú Chulainn and the Cattle Raid of Cooley from Irish mythology has been fitted at Belfast City Hall. The window, which was commissioned by Belfast City Council as part of its aim to create a ‘City Hall For All’, was designed by artist Martin Donlin who looked to the ancient ‘Ulster Cycle’ for inspiration.

“City Hall is Belfast’s most iconic building and welcomes hundreds of tourists and visitors through its doors every week,” he said.

“We want to see City Hall become a shared space for all, celebrating our rich and diverse history. We commissioned this window with the aim of creating something that would reflect Celtic myths and legends and I think Martin has done a fantastic job of bringing the well-known story of Cú Chulainn to life.”

Recent additions to City Hall include stained-glass windows on the subjects of the Irish Famine and the Belfast Dockers’ Strike, and a commissioned bust of Mary Ann McCracken, the sister of United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken, all aimed at broadening the building’s rich tapestry of history. The new window is on the ground floor of the building, close to the reception area.

Artist Martin Donlin’s designs have won many awards, including the 2010 Royal Society of Arts for Architecture award for best integrated artwork.